Accumulating Snow to Augment the Fresh Water Supply at Barrow, Alaska.
Abstract
With appropriate snow management techniques, it appears that local freshwater runoff can be significantly increased in northern Alaska, providing additional water for community needs. At Barrow, AK, snow fences 1.5 and 2.7 m high were installed in September of 1972, at two orientations (north-south and east-west). By February 1973 the fences were very near saturation. Influence of the fences was evident at 10 to 15 times fence height on both sides of the fences. Surface reworking and slight accumulation increases were shown in subsequent April and June measurements. Snow accumulation on adjacent, relatively flat terrain at all three measurement times was about 40 cm depth. The average increase in water equivalent over the drift cross section for the 1.5 m fence was 15 cm, with a maximum of 50 cm within 1.0 m of the fences. For the 2.7 m fence, the average increase in water equivalent was 45 cm, with a maximum of 1.5 m within 1 meter of the fence. Snow density at each measurement time was in the range of 0.40 to 0.55 g/cu cm.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1975
- Accession Number
- ADA005031
Entities
People
- C. W. Slaughter
- Justin M. Brown
- Lemuel A. Brown
- M. Mellor
- P. V. Sellmann
Organizations
- Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory